
Teaching Today
"There's a Word on the Page That's Bothering Me": Understanding Early Reading Struggles
Why does learning to read come easily for some kids and feel like an invisible wall for others? Dr. Shantell Blake, VP of Education and Outreach at Reading Horizons, joins Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang and Dr. Cristina Compton to unpack the science of reading — starting with personal stories of their own children's early reading struggles. Dr. Blake explains why reading is a taught skill, not a natural one, how word recognition and language comprehension must work together through "structured literacy," and why the burden of piecing together fragmented curricula shouldn't fall on individual teachers. A candid, research-grounded conversation for anyone who's ever watched a child struggle to read and wondered why. We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html


